I wrote out several blog titles prior to choosing the three-word title you see above.  A few sounded corny, some awkward, and a couple others seemed too … confrontational.  And the last thing I wanted was to wade into controversial waters.  So I thought the simple title of ‘What I Believe’ would do.  Enough to make some go ‘huh?’  But hopefully not too much to make others go ‘ugh.’

However, I know by bringing up the topic of belief, of faith, I risk offending when I wish not to offend.  And I risk arguments where I wish only to explain my own personal feelings.  For I cannot speak to my own belief system without at times referencing, whether explicitly, or by implication, other systems of faith.

I have toyed with the idea of listing some rules of courtesy and what I will and will not tolerate with regards to comments. …

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/former-internees-trek-to-minidoka-relocation-center/article_40d396e4-c1a4-55a4-8fda-4a11c0739bf6.html

DREW NASH • TIMES-NEWS National Park Service guide Anna Tamura, center, speaks during a tour June 22, 2013 at the Minidoka Internment Camp near Eden. Around 200 people made the annual trip this year.

Many of my posts are about cowboy stuff.  They seem more popular than what I write about legal topics.  What a surprise!

So, I am warning you fans of ranch life that this ain’t about our horses or dogs or wildfires or brandings or buffalo or deer or antelope.  This is about lying.

Contrary to what seems to be the public perception of lawyers, lawyers need to be even more careful about lying than the general public.  Lawyers are members of a licensed and regulated profession.  Also, that particular profession is charged with pursuing justice.  I tell my clients that their credibility and my credibility are crucial to their cases.  We are stuck with the facts, but how we are perceived by the jury, judge and opposing counsel are how cases are won or lost.

I tell my clients about a particular Colorado jury instruction which is read to every…

Today’s BlogHer prompt for National Blog Posting Month is:

Tuesday, June 11, 2013
How much does your culture come into play in your day-to-day life?

When I see the word culture, I first think of the Japanese side of my family. That’s not to say my dad’s side of my family “ain’t got no culture,” but the culture of the English, Irish and Scottish mix on my dad’s side seems to have blended into what we consider to be American influence and it’s harder to pick out.

The first thing I thought of when I read the prompt was what I wrote about in my post yesterday — losing face. So again, you can imagine my jaw dropping when, upon researching the origin of “losing face,” I found it was Chinese.

I should ask my Japanese cousins if the threat of losing face was as much a part of…

Smitty held the Nisei in very high regard and I would be remiss in neglecting to tell their story. Beside, one of these men might have been directly responsible for the safe return of my father. In reality, it would be near impossible to relate a story of the Pacific War without mentioning their service. Some of this unique intelligence force worked ‘behind the scene’ stateside U.S.A. or Australia, but many were up front and fighting at and behind enemy lines. Smitty always had extreme appreciation for the courage, resilience and down-right crazy stunts they pulled off. They were capable of going behind the lines to acquire information or cut into the radio lines and all the while they remained quite aware that their own units might mistake them for the enemy when they returned. This did happen more than once.

Most everyone is aware of whom the Nisei are…

Over the past few weeks, I have taken a little time to focus on other priorities such as my primary job (I don’t write on a full-time basis), my family and my fitness (not necessarily in that order). In response to that focus, my attention had shifted away from militaria and the various aspects of collecting during that period of time. Now that we are in the latter half of May, I need to bring my thoughts back to my passion for military history as one of the most important holidays (in my opinion) draws near.

Turning on the news this morning, my interest in the weekend forecast is piqued as the meteorologist begins to discuss the cooler than normal temperatures, the risk of rainfall and how these conditions will impact camping, boating and backyard barbecue plans. The statement really struck me as my only considerations for this weekend surrounded…